The fire on the ship Serpukhov was started by a volunteer of the Freedom of Russia Legion

3 July, 2024 Serpukhov corvette. Photo from open sources A future volunteer of the Freedom of Russia Legion started the fire on the Serpukhov small missile ship of the Russian Navy.

The Freedom of Russia Legion announced this today during a press conference. The fire occurred on April 7, 2024, on the territory of the naval base in the city of Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region. The details of the sabotage were revealed only now when the volunteer, who was then an active member of the Russian invasion army, was able to leave the Russian territory.

"Finally, we can share the details of a special operation on the ship Serpukhov conducted by patriots of free Russia from the Freedom of Russia Legion and a volunteer with the call sign Goga," the unit said.

A Russian volunteer with the call sign Goga. Photo credits: Freedom of Russia Legion

The Project 21631 Buyan-M small missile ship Serpukhov was launched in 2015 and is a carrier of Kalibr cruise missiles. Russians use similarly designed ships for missile strikes against Ukraine.

"Callsign Goga contacted the Legion in 2023 as an active duty Baltic Fleet serviceman with access to state secrets. For a long time, at the risk of his own life, he provided important information," the Freedom of Russia Legion added about the volunteer's activities. When the fire on the ship was reported, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine noted that the fire inside the missile ship completely destroyed its communications and automation equipment.

Restoring the ship's combat capability will take a long time. In its video, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine also released footage of one of the rooms of the ship where the fire started, which, in turn, confirms the involvement of the Ukrainian special services:

The video also shows the plan of the ship, which was probably transmitted by a volunteer with the call sign Goga: